This Gluten-free Chili Mac is a super easy dinner that the whole family will love! It comes together in one pan, and has a dairy-free option too!
I am always looking for easy healthy meals like our Pakistani Kima, Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets, Low Carb Shepherd's Pie, Homemade Hamburger Helper, and Oven Barbecued Chicken. and this One Pan Egg Roll in a Bowl.
So you know I was thrilled to get this Healthy Chili Mac Recipe from Tessa of Tessa Domestic Diva. I love Tessa's selection of healthy, attractive, and special diet friendly recipes (she's got a beautiful site as well.) I hope you enjoy this post by Tessa as she shares with us some quick, easy, and healthful options for getting dinner on the table---FAST!
I can’t tell you how many times people around me have lamented how they wish they had more time to cook and put wholesome dinners down for their family every night.
Regardless of your time constraints: it IS possible.
The key is pre-planning and picking the right recipes that cook quickly or in a crock-pot while you’re away managing your busy day.
Take a moment to organize yourself! You will be saving yourself loads of money AND eating more healthy, wholesome foods than the grab and go fare you find in most grocery stores.
Best of all, you get to control what goes into your food. Let me show you how! With a little practice, this process of pre-planning should not take more than 30 minutes (unless you’re like me and adore pouring through recipe sources for pleasure!)
Tips for Easy Meals
1. I have a post on how to menu plan to help you learn how to get the ball rolling.
2. Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer to take stock of items that need to be used up.
3. Pick your recipes. Avoid recipes that have long cooking times or loads of prep work, save these for weekend cooking when you may have more time.
4. Make a grocery list. Whatever recipes you pick, make a corresponding grocery list to pick up the things you do not already have on hand. As I mentioned in my above menu-planning post, I keep pre-printed grocery lists on hand for this. I group the foods I need by type and have them on my list in the order I hit them in my favorite store.
5. Grocery shop with your list in hand. STICK TO IT to ensure you are only spending money on items you’ll use. We do this as a family (even with all the "bumps" shopping with kids entails). You may prefer to do it alone. An organized list helps you move through the store efficiently, and I give my older kids jobs to help the process.
6. Enjoy your newfound health and freedom! It feels good to feed your family well, and it is entirely possible and worth it. Less stress is better for your body too…but I didn’t need to tell you that, did I?!
Here are some quick and easy recipes to get you started.
Recipe Notes
- For tips on peeling garlic, see the Easiest Way to Peel Garlic.
- I used diced tomatoes, but pureed them w/ my immersion blender first. The puree hides the big chunks of tomatoes that my kids won’t eat.
- Here is a great place to buy beef broth. Also, here are some tips for making bone broth. This Homemade Veggie Broth works as well.
- For gluten-free noodles, I used Tinkyada Brown Rice Elbows. Use veggie noodles, spaghetti squash or these noodles for a low-carb option.)
- TIP: Add any additional vegetables to this. I bet bell peppers, carrots, spinach, or cabbage would all be good!
- If you would like to top with garnishes, avocado slices, pickled jalapeños, hot sauce, fresh lime, shredded cabbage are all great options.
- Grain-free Option: can be made grain-free using Konjac or another grain-free noodle.
Healthy Chili Mac (gluten free)
Ingredients
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- 1 onion (finely diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 pound ground beef (or any ground meat)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 14.5 oz canned tomatoes (pureed or crushed; about 1 can)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 Tbsp chili powder (or to taste)
- 2 1/2 cups gluten-free noodles (uncooked)
- 1/2 cup dairy-free cheddar cheese (or favorite cheddar; omit for paleo. This DF Cheddar Powder looks like a great option.)
Instructions
- Preheat a 10-12" skillet with a tight fitting lid over medium heat.
- Add the oil.
- Add the onions and saute until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Crumble the ground meat and add in the garlic, stirring to break the meat up.
- When browned, add in tomato paste, canned tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, and chili powder. Stir to combine.
- Mix in the noodles. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover. Cook until the noodles are al dente, about 7-10 minutes. The noodles will continue to soak up liquid as it sits, so don’t worry if it seems thin at first.
- Stir in cheddar shreds until melted. Serve with preferred garnishes.
More Quick and Easy Meals:
Quick & Easy 2 Ingredient Pulled Pork
Fish Amandine
Warm Chicken BLT Salad
Creamy Ham & Potato Soup
(not low carb)
"Clean Out the Fridge Pasta"
(use vegetable noodles for a low carb dish)
Easy and Yummy Bean Dip
(everyone asks for this recipe -- not low carb but delicious!)
Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Indian Lentils
(ready in as little as 9 minutes - not low carb)
What is YOUR favorite super quick meal?
The cheese powder you suggested has milk as the first ingredient. That’s not dairy free. As family managing multiple food allergies, I was excited to try one of my husband’s favorites, but so disappointed to see it’s not actually safe for all of us.
Hi there! Thanks for the heads up! Not sure how that happened! You can of course, as the recipe indicates use any kind of DF cheddar (or other type of cheese as you would like) but I have fixed the link and put in another link for another option for you as well.So hope you like it and thanks again!
Yes, it should read non-dairy cheese. Can you recommend a brand that is tasty?
I haven't tried that many but Follow Your Heart is one we liked. However, I have seen some poor reviews of it as well. I just found this powder---looks really interesting and I like the brand.
We've recently discovered the follow your heart brand and the taste is far superior to Daiya. It also melts into casseroles and even pizza. It does have rice flour and xanthan gum for those who are paleo or may be sensitive to those ingredients to know.
Adrienne, the link leads to a cheese powder. It is not dairy free, just gluten free. I just thought I'd clarify that if others need to be dairy free like us.
Thanks for the recipe!
Hello there! I did try that once and we liked it! I just edited that link and added another link to another cheese option as well. Thanks for the heads up. I really have no idea how that happened! I did notice that when you search "dairy free cheddar cheese" or "vegan cheese powder" on Amazon, that comes up - so again, I don't know who put the link in there or if it changed as could happen (they sometimes have a different item put in for the same link) but it's fixed now. Thanks and hope you like it!
This was great. I used ground turkey instead of beef and it was flavorful. Also, I haven’t found any dairy cheese that tastes good, so I left that out.
So glad you liked it! We haven't made this in forever. Time to remedy that! You mean you haven't found a non-dairy cheese that you like, correct?
Do you cook the noodles before adding them to browned beef mixture or add them in uncooked?
Hi there. I just updated the post to make it more clear. You add them uncooked. Hope you like it!
didn't read all the details and subs on this one but would nutritional yeast work for paleo? and some zucchini noodles?? Looking forward to many more brilliant recipes and discoveries from Your exceptional brain and heart young lady!!
Hi there! Yes, you can do that and yes zucchini noodles are a great idea. Your encouragement has meant so much. I think you'll really like this recipe! Please let me know how it goes.
Do you have a recommendation for dairy-free shredded cheddar? The few dairy free cheeses I have tried my family did not like.
I have not - sorry about that! We don't buy processed df cheeses. I hope to work on a DIY one though!
I buy but shirataki noodles from vitacost and buy there label so much cheaper and since we now love them so. Found that the best way is to rinse longer salt the water you cook them in like you would with real pasta and cooker longer then paskage says, also when you drain them and cook in dry skillet also cook longer then put in soup or dress with your fave sauce delish.Great for carbonara.
Looks yummy! I am working on menu planning so I will have to go check out your tips!
Your link to the warm chicken BLT salad is not working. Would love to have that recipe.
Fixed - thanks!